The Newfoundland and Labrador senator, and avid mountaineer, was among a group of eight climbers and two Argentinian guides who scaled Aconcagua, a 7,000-metre mountain. He talked about the climb in an email interview with Postmedia News from Argentina. Here’s an edited transcript:

PN: How are you feeling?

Sen. David Wells: My feet are a bit of a mess with split heals from wearing mountaineering boots for so long and multiple blisters from the 30-kilometre trek out. My sun-burnt lips have almost healed. I also lost my footing on the summit approach and chipped my left elbow. I’ll have to get that addressed.

Sen. David Wells: With Aconcagua, only 30 per cent of climbers summit — it’s a very low rate. I tried to find why some folks didn’t summit, and mitigate those causes. I was fortunate to cover all the bases in my control: a good level of fitness, excellent gear, a positive mindset. I was really lucky with the things I couldn’t control: weather and climbing partners. We had a strong team and everyone was supportive. You don’t always get that.

PN: How hard was the climb?

Sen. David Wells: Biggest problem was altitude. One guide threw up blood and the other (had) a severe enough headache to, correctly, turn back. That was all happening behind the lead group and in bad weather. We weren’t aware until the summit push (that) we were alone. It’s the second highest peak I’ve summited without a guide. That’s not the way it’s supposed to work.

Sen. David Wells stands at the summit of Mt. Aconcagua in Argentina.

PN: What was it like at the summit?

Sen. David Wells: While being at the summit was a relief, I did take the opportunity to take in the scene. It was awesome. I was mindful that only half the task was complete: Most people die on the descent. By the time I got back to high camp — almost 20,000 feet — I was exhausted, more than I’ve ever been in my life. I collapsed in the tent and my tent-mate, a climber from Lebanon, poured me some tea. Seconds later, I was asleep.

PN: Who is in the picture you’re holding at the summit?

Sen. David Wells: I (brought) a photo of my sons, Alex and Luke. They inspire me greatly — as does representing Canada among my climbing peers. I’m proud to hold Canada’s flag at the summit.

Sen. David Wells takes a break from climbing Mt. Aconcagua in Argentina. The sophomore senator from Newfoundland and Labrador did the climb over three weeks in January 2014.

PN: When you arrive in the Senate, what do you plan to tell your colleagues about the climb?

Sen. David Wells: I’m sure everyone had a great Christmas break and many will have travelled and those will be good stories to hear. High-altitude mountaineering isn’t a common avocation, however it’s not part of my nature to talk much about it either. I might have a couple of stories, but I’ll be judicious.

PN: Aconcagua, Kilimanjaro, Elbrus — what’s next? Everest?

Sen. David Wells: I’ll just savour this one for a while. There’s a very vibrant mountaineering community and we’re always talking possibilities. That said, I’m excited to get back to my work in the Senate.

A photo of a climbers’ camp on Mt. Aconcagua, Argentina, in January 2014. Photo supplied by Sen. David Wells who climbed the 7,000-metre peak.